Our country, and the world, faces the duel crisis of a failed American economy and climate change that threatens life on this planet as we know it.
Poor people and people of color are feeling the adverse impacts of climate change first and worst, from rising energy prices, to increases in heat-related illnesses. Ultimately, however, the destruction resulting from our planet's rising temperature will not be discerning of national borders, a family's yearly income, or the hue of one's skin.
It is similar to what we are all experiencing in these difficult economic times. No matter the race of a worker, when the lights are turned off for the last time in the manufacturing plant, or in any business for that matter, suddenly we amazingly look alike.
We as a nation, must commit to an inclusive transition to a clean energy economy, by decreasing our dependence on dirty fossil fuels, investing in new clean-energy technologies, and putting the people who most need jobs back to work. Our leaders must take urgent action -- this year -- to put us on a path to a prosperous clean energy future.
This is not a new call to action. We have been hearing experts, business leaders, and politicians talk about addressing climate change for a while now. Last year the U.S. House of Representatives passed the American Clean Energy and Security Act. Now the Senate is debating whether they too will pass a clean energy jobs bill.
At the start of Black History Month, ten years into the 21st century, it is time for the African American community to have their voices heard on this issue. For too long communities of color have not seen climate change as their problem but we must now be a part of the solution.
African American's historical struggle for economic opportunity inherently ties into the necessary global effort to reduce CO2 emissions and stop climate change. This was a topic that we discussed at the recent 13th Annual Rainbow PUSH Wall Street Project Economic Summit in New York, and a topic that we will be mobilizing African American communities and young people around on the upcoming "Hip Hop Caucus Clean Energy Now! Tour".
A clean-energy economy means new jobs, less pollution in our communities, and increased opportunities for our children. This month the Hip Hop Caucus Clean Energy Now! Tour will travel from New Orleans to Washington DC, through numerous states in a historic effort to ensure the voices of African Americans, and our young people, are heard on the issue of clean-energy jobs and protecting our planet.
Millions of our friends and neighbors are out of work. We can create 1.7 million new jobs and green our cities from the ground up if our leaders in Washington make a commitment to supporting clean-energy here in America.
Clean-energy investments create more than three times the number of jobs than the equivalent investment in the fossil fuel industry. These are green-collar jobs for roofers, electricians, and construction workers, jobs like retrofitting old buildings and constructing new buildings that are energy efficient.
There will also be opportunity for entrepreneurs of color to have ownership in the clean-energy economy. African Americans will be able to go from being energy consumers to also being energy producers.
A clean-energy future is an answer to African American's calls for jobs, affordable costs of living, and safer, healthier neighborhoods. Big oil and their lobbyists have kept the United States dependent on dirty energy, and they have been allowed to disproportionately pollute the air that children breathe and the water they drink in low-income communities of color.
We know the devastating health effects of pollution. It is the asthma that disproportionally affects our children, it is the allergies that get worse every year, it is the heatstroke that kills too many of our seniors.
Furthermore, if we do not stop climate change, it will only become more expensive to heat and cool our homes, an already horrible burden on low-income families. Households that are at or below 150 percent of the poverty level, or sixty percent of their State's median income, spend an average of twenty percent of their income on home energy bills. This is six times more than the national average.
There is nothing more dangerous and violent than nations becoming less productive, and more desperate, in the face of ecological disaster. Conversely, the greening of our cities can help us to take back our streets. Studies have shown that residents living in greener surroundings report less fear and less violence in their communities.
We can revive our economy, we can regain our communities, and we can restore our planet, by investing in clean-energy solutions. Fifty years from now, we want our grandchildren and their children to live in a prosperous healthy world because of the decisions that our leaders have the opportunity to make this year. We do not want our future generations to know that they are suffering and dying from drought, flooding, food insecurity, and hurricanes, and cannot afford energy for their homes, because of the lack of political will in Washington under our watch.
During Black History Month every year we celebrate the accomplishments of our African American heroines and heroes. This year, we will make history starting with a clean energy bus tour from New Orleans to Washington DC so that future generations can look to this moment and see that when all of God's children come together, humanity is capable of saving the planet and providing access to health and wealth for everyone.
Rev. Lennox Yearwood, Jr. is the President and CEO of the Hip Hop Caucus. For more information on the Hip Hop Caucus and the upcoming Hip Hop Caucus Clean Energy Now! Tour, visit www.hiphopcaucus.org. Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr. is the Founder and President of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition (RPC). For more information about the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, please visit www.rainbowpush.org or call (773) 373-3366.
Michelle Alexander: The New Jim Crow
There are more African Americans under correctional control today -- in prison or jail, on probation or parole -- than were enslaved in 1850, a decade before the Civil War began.
or dual crises
Just sayin...
Dr. Chris Busby and Saoirse Morgan
*Did the use of uranium weapons in Gulf War II result
in the contamination of Europe*
http://www.greenaudit.org/new_page_31.htm
*High levels of depleted uranium (DU) have been measured in the atmosphere in Britain, transported on air currents from the Middle East and Central Asia. Scientists cited the U.S. bombing of Tora Bora, Afghanistan in 2001 and the “Shock and Awe” bombing during Gulf War II in Iraq in 2003 as one of the main reasons.*
Dr. Chris Busby and Saoirse Morgan
*Did the use of uranium weapons in Gulf War II result
in the contamination of Europe*
easthttp://www.llrc.org/aldermastrept.pdf
How many elderly people are there still living and thriving.
Many of these people grew up aroung steel mills and St. Oil tank farms.
Gary used to have Coke plants, Tube works, American Bridge Co.
Etc. etc. etc.
People had coal furnaces etc...and they are still around and living to a ripe old age....
Might be time to start looking at the preservatives in food that so many of the younger generation are consuming.
Too much talk and not enough action going on. What is happening...
So far a big fat -0-. The stimulus is being wasted on frivolous (as usual)
things that are not putting people to work, no matter what color they are.
Where is all the money for weatherizing etc...seems like more energy is
going to "fill somebody's pockets". That, as usual, will only create a few
lucrative positions.
About time for somebody to put their mouth where the money is and get something going in this country. Will take more than handing out money to be wasted.
Get some factories going in abandoned places. The gov't can do this and then turn over the reins to the people who will be working there.
Why can't the public own these places. After all, the Gov't is handing
out so much money for unemployment and welfare.
Time to get the heads out of the sand, and do more than preaching.
Most people won't "go green" until they are forced to.
That is very plain to be seen....and once again, I am not pointing at any group of people.....there are those who could care less because they just don't have to.
We are, self centered. We think on the now, today and that we can make huge changes to this world. The leading cause by man kind to climate change is births of babies and the new babies living. If you want to control the effects by humans on climate the best way is to stop the growth in numbers of humans. Then you would have less cars, power needed and burning of fuel.
Today, the USA is in the forefront in countries with 380 million people and more making great changes. The ones that are harming this world are China and India then the old Soviet Union. We, regardless of color are trying, Many non white don't give a damn!
Ya, even no “e”
1991 Club of Rome (premier environmental think-tank and consultants to the United Nations) (Al Gore Member)
"Isn't the only hope for the planet that the industrialized civilizations collapse? Isn't it our responsibility to bring that about?”
Maurice Strong- Board Of Directors Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX), Club of Rome Executive Member
CCX owes its existence in part to the Joyce Foundation (Chicago)- Obama(Chicago) was on Board Of Directors Of Joyce Foundation when 2 large Grants where given to Create CCX.
Sept. 2008- Goldman Sachs bought 10% of CCX shares for $23 million.
Goldman Sachs Group Inc-Obama's top source of campaign of campaign money overall.
In light of the fact that the IPCC's Dr Murari Lal has admited that the 2007 IPCC report is flawed and that he knew all along there was no peer-reviewed research to back up many of it's claims " we thought that if we can highlight it, it will impact policy-makers and politicians", instead of stepping back and taking a hard look at what is occuring this Administration(Chicago based) is "Al Caponeing" the American people into disastrous policies.